Basketball backstop apparatus



June 13, 1939. F, HOPPEs ET AL 2,162,085

BASKETBALL BACKSTOP APPARATUS Filed Dec. 28, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet l g): I,glhwentor/l (Ittorneyfl June 13, 1939. E. F. HOPPES ET AL BASKETBALL BACKSTOP APPARATUS Filed Dec. 28, 1937 5 sheets sheet 2 (Ittomegd June 13, 1939. E. F, HOPPES ET AL BASKETBALL BACKSTOP APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 4 Zhmentom attorney! June 13, 1939'. E. F, HOPPES ET AL 2,

A B SKETBALL BACKSTOP APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 28, 1957 mw pwz// M 3 nucmqm Gttornqn Patented June 13, 1939 UNITED STATES 2,162,085 BASKETBALL BAOKSTOP APPARATUS Edwin F. Hoppes, Fred C.

Garratt, Jr., and

Walter B. Evans, Springfield, Ohio, assignors to The Everwear Manufacturing Company, 1 Springfield, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application December 28, 1937, Serial No. 182,070

14 Claims.

This invention relates to basketball backstops, it particularly relating to the foldable type of backstop apparatus.

The object of the invention is to provide a backstop apparatus of the character referred to which can be readily raised and lowered.

Another and more specific object of the invention is to provide a backstop apparatus which includes a brace together with improved means for movably and hingeably supporting the brace from overhead supporting devices and for: latching the same in operative position.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus embodying the improvements.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the backstop and its supporting hangers.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the backstop and its supporting hangers.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of a portion of the backstop and one of the supporting hangers.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the upper side of the brace member for the backstop.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the brace.

Fig. 7 is an elevation of the under side of a portion of the brace.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the apparatus in partly raised position.

' Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a section on the line ill-J0 of Fig. 8. Fig. 11 is a side elevation of a portion of the backstop in the position it occupies in Fig. 8.

Fig. 12 is a top plan view of one of the supports for the brace supporting rollers.

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 14 is an end elevation of the same.

Figs. 15 and 16 are details of the supports for the brace supporting rollers.

Fig. 17 is a top plan view of one of the hinged members which connects the brace and backstop.

Fig. 18 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 19 is an end view of the same.

Fig. 20 is a top plan View of a detail of one of 45 the latches for the upper end of the brace.

Fig. 21 is a side View of the same.

Fig. 22 is a front view of the same.

Fig. 23 is a top plan view of one of the hinged members for the upper end of one of the back- 50 stop hangers.

Fig. 24 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 25 is a side View of the same.

Fig. 26 is a side view of one of the latch operating members.

Fig. 27 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 28 is an end view of one of the brace supporting rails.

Fig. 29 is a plan view of the rail. Y

The apparatus is supported from two tubular overhead rails I which are connected together 5 by a pair of cross members I. The backstop is indicated at 2 and is secured to a pair of truss hangers 3 by bolts 4 (Fig. 11).

These hangers are hingeably supported from one of the cross members I, and to that end the 10 upper end of each of the hangers is provided with an apertured hinge member 5 which is received in the forked portion of a hinge member 6 (Figs. 23, 24 and 25). This hinge member 6 is clamped to the cross member I by a cap 1 and bolts 8 15 (Fig. 9). A rod 9 extends through the apertures of both sets of hinge members soas to hingedly connect the hinge members together.

The two hangers 3 are connected together by provided each havmg a turn buckle H for the purpose of truing' up the hanger frame.

The hanger and backstop are braced by a pair of truss brace members I2 connected by cross 25 members l3. This brace structure is also provided with flexible diagonal tension members l4 whereby it may be trued up. The brace structure is hingedly connected tothe backstop and to that end each of the members I2 is provided 30 with a forked apertured hinge member I5 and each of the hangers is provided with a hinge member l6 as shown in detail in Figs. 17, 18 and 19. Each of the hinge members 15 is provided by the hinge to ether. The upper end of the brace structure is hingedly and movably supported from the rails I. To that end there is mounted on each of the rails I a carriage consisting of side members 20 each having a spacing boss 2| and being connected by a rod 22 which extends through apertures in the bosses 2|. These side members carry rolls 23 mounted on axle studs 24 secured to the side members. In order to keep the carriage from becoming dislodged from the rail I, each side member of the carriage is provided with a curved arm 25, the ends of these arms being apertured and connected together bya bolt 26 and on this bolt between the arms is a ball bearing 21 to reduce friction orbinding (shown in detail in to receive the latch and spring.

paratus is being lowered and-the carriages move Y r the ,rod and hold Figs. and 16). The members l2 of the brace structure are hingedly connected to the rod 22 and to that end each member is provided with a forked apertured hinged member mounted on the rod.

When theapparatus is being raised or lowered the carriages run upon the rails l but when the backstop and its hangers are in fully lowered playing position means are provided for latching the brace to the rails I. To that end there is clamped to each of the rails l a latch carrying member 29, each of the members 29 being clamped to the rail by caps 30 and bolts 3|. Each of the members 29 carries a latch 32 which is-normally urged to latching position 'bya coil spring 23,'the member 29 beingformed with a small housing :34

'Whenfthe aprod 22 to which the brace the beveled noses of the along the rails I, the is hinged will strike latches .32 so as to be automatically locked by the latches; the member 29' preferably having an angularly-projectingnose .35 to receive and guide it in position. 7 a

i For the-purposeof unlatching the brace when it isdesired to raise the-structure there is hinged to the member 23' apair of yoke-shapedmernbers 36,,one of which is shown in detailin Figs. 26

and 2'7'. Each of ithesemembers is providedwith apertures .31 whichrreceive a pin 38 which is carried by the'supporting member 29,. Each of these-members is also providedwith an elongated aperture .39 and the latch, as shown in Figs. 21 and 22 ,is r providedwithan opening. Passing throughthe elongated-openings and the openingrllll -is a pin-4| whereby the member 36 and the :latch are hingedly and movably connected together; The pin 41 also passes through an The member 36 also has a perforated' ear which a-;rope -.43'-i s connected. By pullingdown on the rope the-latch is temporarily withdrawn from the rod 22. The ropes ends @connected'to a rope or cable 44 which is connected to the cable 45 by which the apparatus -is raised, :the ;rope' being connected to the raising and lowering- .cable :so that 'when the apparatus is raised the ropes 43 will be raised out of .the way 7 :I-Iavingthus described our invention, weclairn: "1. In a basketball backstop apparatus, overhead supports, a rigid backstop supporting frame I hingedly carriedat its upper-end by said supports, a rigid bracing frame having its lower end hingedly connected to a lower portion of said backstop supporting frame, means for movably supporting the upper end of said bracing frame on-said supports, and means for releasably latch+ .ingthe upper end of said bracing frame to said supports. I

.2. In a basketball backstop apparatus, overhead supports, a rigid backstop supporting frame hingedly carried at its-upper end by said supports, a rigid "bracing frame having its lower end hingedly connected to a lower portion of said backstop supporting frame, means for movably supporting theupper ,end of said bracing frame on said supports, automatic latches for latching the upper end'of said bracing frame to said supports, .and manually operated means. operable fromthe floor line for'releasing said latches. 3. In a basketballbackstop apparatus, ,overhead supports, backstop supporting hangers hingedly carried .at their upper ends by said supports, rigid braces hinged1y connected to said 28 hingedly in the wall of the'housing. 42 to.

43 have their lower hangers, carriages supports, means to to said carriages, and means to releasably latch said carriages to said supports.

4. In a. basketball backstop apparatus, over- :said carriages, an automatic latch for each car-- riage to latch the carriage manually operated means to release said latches.

to its support, and

movably mounted on said V hingedly connect said braces V 5. In a basketball backstop apparatus, overhead supports, backstop supporting hangers hingedly carriedlattheir upper ends by said supports, rigid braces hingedly connected to said ;hangers, carriages movably mounted on said supports, means to hingedly connect said braces to said carriages, an automatic latch for each carriage to latch the carriage to its support, and manually operated-means to release said latch, said means comprising a pivotedoperating-member pivotally connected witheach latch.

.6. In a basketball'backstop, overhead supports,

1 backstop supporting hangers-hingedly carried at their upper ends .by said supports, rigid braces hingedly connected to said hangers, a pair of carriages movably mounted on said supports,=a

rod connecting said carriages, means to hingedly connect said braces to said rod, and means to releasably latch said carriages tosaidsupports.

7. In a basketballbackstop, overhead su port backstop supporting hangers hingedly carried at their upper ends by said supports, rigid braces hingedly connected to saidhangers, a pair of carriages movably mounted onsaid supports a rod connecting said carriages, means'to hingedly-connect said braces to said rod, andgmeans toreleasably latch'said carriages to saidsupports, said means comprising -a;pivoted operating member pivotally, connected with each latch.

8. In a basketball backstop, parallel overhead supporting rails, a backstop supporting frame hingedly carried at its upper end by said rails, a

rigid bracing frame hingedlyconnected toathe lower portion of said hanger frame, a -pair of carriages movably mounted on said supports, a connection between saidcarriages, .means to hingedly connect the upper .end .of .said bracing frame to said connection, automaticlatchesfior latching said carriages to saidsupports, :and

manually-operated meansoperable from .thefloor line for releasing said latches.

9. In a basketball backstop, parallel overhead supporting rails, abackstop supporting hanger together with means for hingedly supportingthe same at its upper end by said supports, a rigid brace frame hingedly connected to. the lower portion of said hanger frame, a pair of carriages movably mounted on said supporting rails, means to hingedly connect the upper portion of said bracing frame to said carriages, a latch supporting member connected with eachof saidrails, a spring-pressed latch carried by each of said latch supporting members, a latch releasing member carried by each of said latch supporting members, and means for operating said latch releasing members from the floor line.

10. In a basketball backstop, parallel overhead supporting rails, a backstop hanger member together with means 'forhingedly supporting the same at its upper end by said support, abrace member for said hanger member lrfingedly'rconnected to the lower portion of said hanger .mem-

her, a pair of carriages movably mounted on said supporting rails, means to hingedly connect the upper portion of said bracing member to said carriages, a latch supporting member connected with each of said rails, an automatic latch carried by each of said latch supporting members, a latch releasing member pivoted to each of said latch supporting members, each of said latch releasing members having an elongated slot and each of said automatic latches a perforation, a pin extending through the elongated slot of each latch releasing member and through the perforation of the corresponding automatic latch, and means for operating said latch releasing members from the floor line.

11. In a basketball backstop apparatus, overhead supports, a backstop supporting hanger member hingedly carried by said supports, a rigid brace member hingedly connected with said hanger member, carriages movably mounted on said supports, means to hingedly connect said brace member to said carriages, and means to releasably latch said carriages to said support, a rigid member extending from each of said carriages to a point beneath and closely adjacent said supports, and a rotating bearing carried by said rigid member to engage the lower side of the corresponding support to prevent dislodgment of the carriages therefrom.

12. In a basketball backstop apparatus, a pair of overhead rails, a backstop, means for hingedly supporting said backstop from said rails, means for swinging said backstop up and down, a rigid brace member hingedly connected with said backstop, a carriage movably mounted on each rail, each carriage comprising rolls adapted to run on the rails when the backstop is raised or lowered, means for hingedly connecting said brace mem her with said carriages, and means for latching said carriages against movement in the operative bracing position of said brace member.

13. In a basketball backstop apparatus, a pair of overhead rails, a backstop, means for hingedly supporting said backstop from said rails, means for swinging said backstop up and down, a rigid brace member hingedly connected with said backstop, a carriage movably mounted on each rail, each carriage comprising side frame members, centrally positioned spacing bosses, and rolls carried by said side members adapted to roll on the rails when the backstop is raised or lowered, means for hingedly connecting said brace to said carriages, and means for latching said carriages against movement when said brace member is in operative bracing position.

14. In a basketball backstop apparatus, a pair of overhead rails, a backstop, means for hingedly supporting said backstop from said rails, means for swinging said backstop up and down, a rigid brace member hingedly connected with said back stop, a carriage movably mounted on each rail, each carriage consisting of side frame members, side spaced-apart frame members, rolls carried by said frame members adapted to roll upon the corresponding rail when the backstop is raised or lowered, an arm connected with each frame member, extending beneath the rails, anti-friction devices carried by the lower ends of the arms adapted to engage the under side of the rail to hold the carriage from displacement, means for hingedly connecting the brace to said carriages, and means to lock the carriages against movement in the operative bracing position of said brace member.

EDWIN F. HOPPES. FRED C. GARRATT, JR. WALTER B. EVANS. 

